Chappell has marked a career head coaching record of 402-213, led six teams to the NCAA Division II National Tournaments, and won more than 20 games in each season for 12 consecutive years.
In 1995 Chappell was hired as head coach of Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, and took over a program that had had three straight losing seasons.
During his five seasons at Henderson State, he guided his teams to an unprecedented four Gulf South Conference men's basketball tournament championships, three Gulf South Conference West titles, and led the team to five NCAA tournament appearances.
In 2002–03, Henderson State was 30–5 overall, tying a school record, and reached the NCAA D-II Tournament South Regional championship game.
Chappell took over the University of Central Arkansas program (2003) that went 5–20 the previous year and produced a 43–18 record in his first two seasons as the head coach of the Bears.
Central Arkansas tied for the league title and made their first ever trip to the NCAA II Tournament.
In 2006 Central Arkansas began its multi-year transition to Division I and joined the Southland Conference.
Johnson County finished the 2021-22 season 28-4 and ranked fourth in the final NJCAA D-II Poll.